Input and Resources

Input and Resources

The Initiative fosters conceptual understanding and framing for the loss and damage debate and gives relevant policy guidance – from specific outputs on the UNFCCC work to broader efforts around the loss and damage agenda. The Initiative also features research on the legal aspects of loss and damage.

New empirical evidence from nine research sites presented in Volume 1 (Warner et al., 2012b) and Volume 2 (this publication) show that loss and damage occurs when there are barriers that impede planning and implementation of adaptation, and when physical and social limits to adaptation are reached or exceeded. >> more

An open access special issue of the International Journal of Global Warming brings together, for the first time, empirical evidence of loss and damage from the perspective of affected people in nine vulnerable countries. The articles in this special issue show how climatic stressors affect communities, what measures households take to prevent loss and damage, and what the consequences are when they are unable to adjust sufficiently. >> more

United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) coordinated nine case studies that documented losses and damages that vulnerable communities are already experiencing today. The studies looked at impacts of extreme weather events as well as slow-onset climatic changes. Four of the case studies were conducted in the Asia-Pacific Region. Key findings of these four cases in the Asia Pacific are summarized in the document. >> more

Applying a gender approach to the emerging loss and damage agenda

An increasing number of studies show that, because of varying capacities due to gender inequalities, men and women are affected by, and respond to, climate change in different ways. Therefore, there is a need to improve the capacities of vulnerable groups and to take a gender-sensitive approach in activities that address climate change. >> more

Applicability of risk transfer tools including insurance

This paper aims to provide inspiration for how risk transfer tools such as insurance can facilitate approaches to address loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change including slow-onset events. In particular it aims to show how insurance can be used in conjunction with a wide set of climate risk management tools to bolster societal resilience. The paper offers an overview of slow-onset climatic processes, provides a description on the current innovative tools and approaches to help reduce loss and damage associated with slow onset events provides case studies, and discussed some of the gaps and challenges related to implementation and enabling environment needed to manage climate risks in developing countries. >> more

Understanding values at risk from climate change

Experience has shown that efforts to replace losses "only" via monetary compensation has not worked well. Instead, policy and practice on loss and damage must capture the opportunity for a more fundamental transformation. Any framework for loss and damage must aim not merely at compensating previous living conditions, but at improving them. >> more

Resilience on top of agenda for several political processes in 2015: Where does loss and damage come in?

2015 will be a busy year for the UN system. Several international processes are culminating, working on different aspects tackling natural disasters and improving resilience of people to climate and other kinds of risks. Extraordinary effort will have to be made to provide vision and coordination among these processes, otherwise political attention will be diluted, stakeholder engagement spread thin, and resources not prudently applied only in the run-up to these major policy milestones, but also in the actual implementation. >> more

The 13th Bonn Dialogues panel discussion will discuss the role of non-economic loss and damage, its impacts on societies and current evidence. The public symposium takes place on Monday, 10 June 2013 at 6 p.m. at Deutsche Welle. Please register via info@bonn-dialogues.org - all welcome! >> more

Coverage of Side Event at the Bonn Climate Change Conference - 4 June 2013

This session, moderated by Koko Warner, UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), considered loss and damage related to climate change, with a focus on bringing together applications and solutions from different disciplines. >> more

For the first time, these reports offer empirical evidence from the perspective of affected people in nine vulnerable countries. The research reveals how climatic stressors affect communities, what measures households take to prevent loss and damage, and what the consequences are when they are unable to adjust enough. >> more